Munster

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Munster have confirmed they will play one of next season's Investec Champions Cup pool fixtures at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork.

Thomond Park in Limerick usually stages Munster's home European games, with Cork last hosting one at Virgin Media Park in December 2002.

Munster have held friendly games against South Africa XV and New Zealand side Crusaders at the 45,000-capacity Pairc Ui Chaoimh in recent years.

The match against Crusaders at the home of Cork GAA attracted a crowd of 40,885 and Munster say they hope for a "significant financial uplift" from hosting a Champions Cup game there compared to the 25,6000-capacity Thomond Park.

"In addition to this, the larger capacity of Pairc Ui Chaoimh will allow even more people to experience a competitive Munster Rugby European matchday which provides a fantastic opportunity to grow our base, not just in Cork but right across the southern part of the province," said Munster chief operating officer Philip Quinn.

Munster chief executive Ian Costello, who has also served as interim head coach in recent months, said "showcasing a high-profile competitive fixture to a wider audience is a strategic goal of ours and this aligns with the we have received from many of our ers".

He added: "Unfortunately, the December Champions Cup pool fixtures in Thomond Park have experienced falling attendances over the last two seasons and the staging of this game in Pairc Ui Chaoimh offers us the opportunity to accommodate more ers at that match and improve our financial stability which in the current climate is imperative."

Munster secured 2025-26 Champions Cup qualification with a United Rugby Championship win over Benetton last week.

They face Sharks in Durban in the URC quarter-finals on 31 May (17:30 BST).

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The quarter-finals of the 2024-25 United Rugby Championship season have yet to be played, but already the fixtures for the 2025-26 campaign have been released.

The Irish provinces learnt their URC schedule for the new term on Wednesday.

The opening round of fixtures will take place on the final weekend of September, with eight-time league winners Leinster taking on DHL Stormers on the opening evening of games on Friday 26 September.

Ulster will host the Dragons on the same day, with Munster travelling to play the Scarlets on Saturday 27 September and Connacht at home to Benetton on the same day.

The second round of matches will include Edinburgh v Ulster on Friday 3 October and Bulls v Leinster, Munster v Cardiff and Connacht v Scarlets on Saturday 4 October.

The festive derby games will see Leinster face Ulster on the run-up to Christmas on Friday 19 December, then on Saturday 27 December Connacht are at home to Ulster and Munster host Leinster.

On Friday 2 January, Ulster face Munster, while Leinster are at home to Connacht the next day.

The competition will follow the same format as recent years, with the top eight teams contesting the quarter-finals on the final weekend of May, followed by semi-finals on Saturday 6 June and the final on Saturday 20 June.

You can view a full list of the fixtures here, external.

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United Rugby Championship: Munster v Benetton

Munster (10) 30

Tries: Crowley, Barron, Abrahams, Bernasconi Cons: Crowley, Casey Pens: Crowley, Casey

Benetton (14) 21

Tries: Smyth 2, Bernasconi Cons: Umaga 3

Munster moved sixth in the United Rugby Championship and guaranteed their place in the play-off quarter-finals and next season's Champions Cup with a hard-fought 30-21 victory over Benetton at Virgin Media Park.

Benetton led 14-10 at the break but the Irish province responded after half-time to win.

Jack Crowley scored the opening try on 14 minutes when he dashed over from close range to score beside the posts, the Ireland fly-half converting his own touchdown.

Benetton responded with a try from Rhyno Smith as he went on angled run, skipped through an attempted tackle and dived over, Jacob Umaga converting.

Crowley's penalty edged the hosts in front again but the visitors went ahead with a stunning breakaway try.

Craig Casey missed a tackle on fly-half Umaga on halfway and he fed Smith who raced away for his second try.

Four minutes into the second half Lee Barron rumbled over from a maul after a line-out, Crowley off-target with the tee on that occasion.

Thaakir Abrahams then showed a fine turn of pace after accepting an offload for Munster's third try and Casey added a superb conversion from the touchline.

Crowley set up the score with a cross-kick for Diarmuid Kilgallen on the wing and he provided the for the South African to race clear.

A Casey penalty extended the lead to 11 but Munster weren't finished and Bautista Bernasconi barged over for their third score. Umaga's kick reduced the deficit to four.

Josh Wycherley powered over to give the home side some breathing space, Casey contributing the additional two points.

Munster: Abrahams; Nash, Farrell, Nankivell, Kilgallen; Crowley, Casey; Milne, Scannell, Archer; Kleyn, Beirne (capt); O'Mahony, Hodnett, Coombes.

Replacements: Barron, J Wycherley, Ryan, F Wycherley, Ahern, Murray, O'Brien, Kendellen.

Benetton: Rhyno Smith, Ignacio Mendy, Tommaso Menoncello, Ignacio Brex, Paolo Odogwu, Jacob Umaga, Alessandro Garbisi; Thomas Gallo, Siua Maile, Simone Ferrari, Scott Scrafton, Federico Ruzza (CAPT), Riccardo Favretto, Manuel Zuliani, Lorenzo Cannone

Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Mirco Spagnolo, Tiziano Pasquali, Niccolò Cannone, Sebastian Negri, Nicolò Casilio, Tomas Albornoz, Malakai Fekitoa

Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

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Fly-half Billy Burns will leave Munster at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.

The former Gloucester player ed the province last summer after spending six seasons with Ulster.

The 30-year-old has won seven caps for Ireland having made his debut against Wales in 2020.

Munster, who will be under new head coach Clayton McMillan next season, have also confirmed that Scott Buckley, Patrick Campbell, Liam Coombes, Jack Daly and Cian Hurley will depart Thomond Park once the season has concluded.

It had previously been announced that Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, David Kilcoyne and Stephen Archer are also in their last seasons with the side.

Munster face Benetton on Friday evening knowing that victory will secure their spot in the United Rugby Championship play-offs and next season's Champions Cup.

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Munster will attempt to secure a spot in the United Rugby Championship top eight with an unchanged team when they host play-off rivals Benetton in Cork on Friday (20:00 BST).

Interim boss Ian Costello has retained the 23-man matchday squad from last week's 38-20 win over Ulster at Thomond Park.

Ireland international Craig Casey will make his 100th appearance for the province at scrum-half while Jean Kleyn earns his 150th cap.

The Irish province will be guaranteed a top-eight finish and age into next season's Champions Cup with victory on Friday.

Munster are currently eighth, one place below Benetton, with both sides level on 46 points.

If Munster fail to secure a play-off berth, Friday's game will prove the final act of former Ireland captain Peter O'Mahony's career.

Former British and Irish Lion O'Mahony and record Munster cap holder Stephen Archer will retire at the end of the club's campaign.

Defeat would also spell the end of Conor Murray's Munster career with the former Ireland scrum-half set for a move abroad before next season.

Munster: Abrahams; Nash,Farrell, Nankivell, Kilgallen; Crowley, Casey; Milne, Scannell, Archer; Kleyn, Beirne (capt); O'Mahony, Hodnett, Coombes.

Replacements: Barron, J Wycherley, Ryan, F Wycherley, Ahern, Murray, O'Brien, Kendellen.

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Ulster forward Nick Timoney says the province are "embracing" the pressure of the United Rugby Championship's tight play-off picture.

Richie Murphy's side face Munster in Thomond Park on Friday night (19.35 BST) with the Irish rivals both in need of points in their efforts to make the all-important top eight.

Ulster go into what is the penultimate round of the URC in 12th place, three points off the play-off spots, with Munster in ninth but level on points with Benetton directly above them.

"We need it to keep our season going and I think their situation is pretty similar," said Timoney.

"It's the business end of the season, if you lose, it's a failure. There's no redemption after this one, if we don't win, we're not making the play-offs.

"That comes with a lot of pressure and a lot of weight, but that's why you play the game, that's why you play for a big club like us. We're embracing it and looking forward to it."

'We still have the players to go and win big games'

Perhaps more important than a place in the play-offs, finishing in the top eight would also bring with it a spot in next season's Champions Cup.

Timoney said it is "massive" for Ulster to be playing in Europe's premier competition, something they have done every year since its formation in 1995.

"It should be the pinnacle games through each season and it's where this club belongs, 100%," he added.

"We've been more talking about performances and getting results, but in the back of my head, and I'm sure everyone else's, is that is absolutely where we want to be next year."

Ulster are able to recall Irish internationals Iain Henderson and Rob Baloucoune for the trip to Limerick with Richie Murphy saying this week his squad might be the strongest it has been since he took over the job in March last year.

Throughout this season key players have missed plenty of games through injury while inexperienced players have had to fill the void.

Timoney, however, does not see that as the reason for the side's inconsistent campaign.

"I don't really like to use that as an excuse because when you look at our squad we still have the players to go and win big games," he said.

"At times this year we've had injury problems, but I'd be reluctant to use that as too much of an excuse because if you have that mindset you're giving yourself an out.

"We've no excuses really and we're certainly not taking any into this week."

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Munster forward Dave Kilcoyne has confirmed he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the season.

The 36-year-old won 56 caps from Ireland and helped them to the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023.

Kilcoyne is one of only 15 players to have made over 200 appearances for Munster, but he has struggled with injuries over the last two years and played his final match for the Irish province against Ulster in December 2024.

"Growing up living in Limerick, my dream was always to play for Munster and Ireland," Kilcoyne said.

"To have done so for so long has been a dream come true.

"The last two years haven't gone as planned with surgeries to my shoulder and Achilles. In a way, it's easier that the decision to play on has been taken away from me.

"I take great pride in knowing that I always gave everything I had and left nothing on the pitch. It's almost a fitting way for me to finish up."

Kilcoyne represented Ireland at the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups as well as winning the United Rugby Championship with Munster in 2023.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Munster (10) 13

Tries: Abrahams Con: Crowley Pens: Crowley 2

Bulls (10) 16

Tries: Coetzee Con: Goosen Pens: Goosen 2, Johannes

Keagan Johannes kicked a late penalty as the Bulls edged past Munster with a gritty 16-13 win in the United Rugby Championship.

After Jack Crowley landed an early penalty, the Bulls scored the first try of the game when Marcell Coetzee flew over the line from close range and Johan Goosen converted.

The Bulls extended their lead when Goosen landed a long-range penalty as the rain began to fall in Limerick.

Backed by their vocal home , Munster pushed for a score before the break and their pressure was rewarded when Thaakir Abrahams skipped over in the corner, and Crowley curled in a superb conversion to level the game two minutes before the break.

Goosen's penalty nudged the Bulls back in front but the South Africans had Embrose Papier sent to the sin-bin for not retreating 10 metres as Munster looked to take a quick penalty.

Crowley soon levelled the game with a kick of his own and there was nothing to separate the sides heading into the final 10 minutes, as the game was interrupted by a period of 14 against 14 and uncontested scrums after an injury to Munster's replacement prop Stephen Archer.

Referee Andrea Piardi and his officials then deemed it should have been 15-a-side and both teams were restored to their full compliment, with uncontested scrums still in place.

Replacement Johannes pulled a penalty wide as the Bulls missed an opportunity to retake the lead, but he made no mistake at the second time of asking with seven minutes to play after Alex Kendellen's high tackle on Ruan Nortje.

It was a first defeat in 11 home matches against South African opposition in the URC and leaves Munster in eighth place, while the Bulls remain third.

Munster: T Abrahams; S O'Brien; T Farrell, A Nankivell; A Smith; J Crowley; C Murray; J Wycherley, N Scannell, O Jager; J Kleyn, T Beirne; T Ahern, J O'Donoghue, A Kendellen.

Replacements: L Barron, M Donnelly, S Archer, F Wycherley, R Scannell, P Patterson, D Kilgallen, R Quinn.

Bulls: D Williams; C Moodie; D Kriel, H Vorster; S de Klerk; J Goosen, E Papier; JH Wessels, A van der Merwe, W Louw; C Wiese, R Nortje; M Coetzee, J Kirsten, C Hanekom.

Replacements: J Grobbelaar, S Matanzima, M Smith, JF van Heerden, N Carr, Z Burger, K Johannes, S Jacobs.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist

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Wednesday morning served up a startling reminder of the different worlds Leinster and the other Irish provinces currently inhabit.

Merely an hour after All Blacks centre Rieko Ioane announced his shock move to Leinster for the 2025-26 season, Connacht confirmed the departure of head coach Pete Wilkins.

Leinster are living under a cloudless, blue sky. They are top of the United Rugby Championship, are favourites to win the Investec Champions Cup and have an enviable squad that already includes an All Blacks star in Jordie Barrett - who will be gone by the time Ioane arrives - and a two-time World Cup winner in RG Snyman.

The reality for Munster, Ulster and Connacht is quite different. In the past 12 months, all three have parted ways with their head coach mid-season. While Leinster target the biggest prizes, their Irish rivals are scrapping to even qualify for Europe's top competition next season.

Even without the Wilkins news - which comes four days after Connacht's European Challenge Cup exit - the timing of the Ioane announcement is striking.

On Tuesday, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) revealed another significant tweak to their central contract model: from August 2026, provinces must contribute 40% to central deals. Given that the union fully funded these deals up until a 30% requirement was introduced last year, it is significant.

It was said that the IRFU "intends" that the funds generated by the change will be invested into the player pathways of Connacht, Munster and Ulster.

The new model will certainly hit Leinster the hardest. As of next season, Leinster have 11 centrally contracted players, Connacht have two, Munster have one and Ulster none.

Leinster will be contributing a healthy chunk of budget to those 11 Ireland internationals, but with Ioane taking Barrett's place next season, the anticipated increase to their wage bill has clearly not hampered their ability to recruit in the short-term.

As well as Snyman, Leinster already have French prop Rabah Slimani on the books.

With Ioane replacing Barrett next season, Leo Cullen will again be able to name a matchday 23 where reserve scrum-half is the only position not occupied by a current international from one of the game's four highest ranked Test teams.

After losing three Champions Cup finals in three years, it is true that Leinster's change in approach to non-Irish qualified (NIQ) gs has been brought about their quest to win European rugby's biggest prize for a first time since 2018.

But while the moves will draw envious glances from those in other countries trying to compete for the same trophies, there can be little doubt there will be a similar response much closer to home too.

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Munster centre Alex Nankivell will start Saturday's Champions Cup quarter-final against Bordeaux after his suspension was lifted.

Nankivell was handed a two-game suspension following his red card against Connacht last month and while he remained banned for last week's win over La Rochelle, his appeal was upheld on Thursday.

The New Zealand-born centre replaces Sean O'Brien in midfield with Josh Wycherley replacing the injured Jeremy Loughman at loose-head prop in the only other change from the win over La Rochelle.

Prolific wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey returns to the Bordeaux XV after missing the club's last-16 win over Ulster, but former Munster and Ireland fly-half Joey Carbery is not included in the squad as Matthieu Jalibert regains the 10 shirt.

Thaakir Abrahams, Calvin Nash and Andrew Smith form an unchanged back three while Jack Crowley, fresh off g a contract extension, continues his half-back partnership with Craig Casey.

Wycherley s Diarmuid Barron and Oli Jager in the front row, while Jean Kleyn and captain Tadhg Beirne continue in the second row.

Peter O'Mahony, John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes form the back row, while Mark Donnelly is included as one of the six forward replacements.

Donnelly has not played in the Champions Cup since December 2021, while prop Stephen Archer will earn his 300th Munster cap if called upon.

Bordeaux: J Echegaray; D Penaud, Y Moeffana, J Van Rensburg, L Bielle-Biarrey; M Jalibert, M Lucu; J Poirot, M Lamothe, B Tameifuna; A Coleman, C Cazeaux; M Diaby, G Petti, P Samu.

Replacements: C Sa, M Perchaud, S Falatea, P Bochaton, M Gazzotti, B Vergnes-Taillefer, Y Lesgourgues, P Uberti.

Munster: T Abrahams; C Nash, T Farrell, A Nankivell, A Smith; J Crowley, C Casey; J Wycherley, D Barron, O Jager; J Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (capt); P O'Mahony, J Hodnett, G Coombes.

Replacements: N Scannell, M Donnelly, S Archer, F Wycherley, T Ahern, C Murray, S O'Brien, A Kendellen.

Image source, Inpho

Munster's Alex Nankivell has been cleared to face Bordeaux-Begles in Saturday's Champions Cup quarter-final (15:00 BST).

Nankivell was handed a two-game suspension following his red card against Connacht last month, and while he remained banned for last week's win over La Rochelle, he is available this weekend after his appeal was upheld.

The New Zealand-born centre, 28, was dismissed in Munster's United Rugby Championship win over Connacht by referee Craig Evans after making head with Cian Prendergast.

An appeal consisting of chair Rod McKenzie (Scotland), Achille Reali (Italy) and Rory Bannerman (Scotland) upheld Nankivell's appeal after reviewing the case on Wednesday.

Munster travel to Stade Chaban Delmas on Saturday after edging La Rochelle in a gripping encounter in last weekend.

The Irish province have not reached the Champions Cup semi-finals since 2019.

Munster will name their team to face Bordeaux at 13:00 BST on Friday.

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Ireland fly-half Jack Crowley has agreed a two-year contract extension with Munster Rugby and the Irish Rugby Football Union which will keep him at the province until at least 2027.

The 25-year-old has won 24 Ireland caps to date, had been linked with English Premiership club Leicester Tigers.

Crowley's only start in the recent Six Nations campaign came in the final game of against Italy on 15 March, having come off the bench in the previous four matches which saw Sam Prendergast handed the starting role.

The Cork Constitution clubman became part of the senior Munster squad ahead of the 2021-22 season and started his first United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup games for Munster during that term.

In the 2022-23 campaign he helped Munster win the URC title and made his Ireland Test debut against Fiji.

Crowley featured at his first World Cup in 2023 and went on to start seven consecutive games for Ireland during the victorious 2024 Six Nations campaign and the summer tour to South Africa.

He has made 11 appearances for Munster this season and won consecutive player of the match awards in the away wins over La Rochelle and Connacht over the past two weeks.

Last weekend the number 10 scored the winning drop goal against La Rochelle in a 25-24 victory in the last 16 of the Champions Cup.

To date Crowley has scored 305 points in 65 appearances for Munster since making his debut against Ulster.

Last season he was named 2023-24 URC Players' Player of the Year, URC Next-Gen Player of the Year and was named on the URC Elite XV.

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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After what he called a "special day" in La Rochelle on Saturday, Munster's head of rugby operations Ian Costello said the province are targeting three more such occasions in the Investec Champions Cup this season.

The 25-24 win over Ronan O'Gara's side in the last-16 stage set up a quarter-final away to Bordeaux-Begles this Saturday and Costello wants to ensure that the win in La Rochelle is not viewed as a "cup final" for the group.

"The reality is now we want to have three more days like this," he said after the dramatic win in the Stade Marcel-Deflandre.

"You take one game at a time, but there's no point in this being our cup final. It would nearly disrespect what the club have done.

"We've three matches left to have a crack at winning a trophy."

Costello praised the visiting Munster ers who travelled to La Rochelle in huge numbers

"I went down to meet a few friends just to get out of the hotel for an hour and it was shivers down your neck stuff," he said.

"I hadn't seen anything like that for a long, long time.

"That set the tone. What it means to our ers.

"There was talk of 2,000 [Munster fans] here, there were way more than 2,000."

With only seven days between visits to , it is unlikely the Munster will travel in such numbers to the Stade Chaban-Delmas this weekend, although Costello is sure some will try.

"There'll be kids' piggybanks raided," he joked.

"There'll be people here, that's the magic of it.

"There's people that would prefer not to go on summer holidays to get two weekends like this. That's what's special about the club."